Long-Term Hard Work Is The Key To Achieving Your Goals: Story of Alexandra Osina

Looking to become a fashion blogger, a fashion stylist or a fashion influencer? You’ve come to the right place!

“You need to work every single day without thinking about the results and the appreciation. Just work and work and work, and only then, you’ll get what you want.”

It could take months, or even years, until you could see the fruits of all your hard work. This could break some people along the way, but that’s not the case for Alexandra. Keep on reading to know more about her experiences and motivating words!

What is your name or what should we call you, and how long have you been a stylist/blogger/influencer? Do you remember the year (maybe the day and month, too) that you started?

Hello, my name is Alexandra Osina and I’m working as a stylist for about five years now. Well, there is no exact date for the start of all this, because it was just like a process. There wasn’t really a day that I realized that I became a stylist or something like that. Everything started when I decided to work on my personal style which was really bad at first, honestly. Then I realized that I can help other people ,too. I think that was the starting point. However, at those times, I didn’t even think that I will be able style some photoshoots.

Do you have a specific style?

In the past, I’d say I like to try different styles, but recently, I realized that I didn’t want to experiment anymore. What I like now is to just be myself! My style is feminine and almost always romantic, but never too sweet. I like to add some edgy elements here and there. Lace, embroidery, tassels, biker boots and leather jackets – all these are so me.

Why did you want to become a blogger? Was there anything that happened that triggered you to become one? Did you see something or someone online, or was it because of your avid interest for fashion?

Actually, I didn’t want to. I just published my looks on Lookbook; it was fun. Then, I thought I would have more opportunities if I had a blog. I just really wanted to tell people about my way as a stylist.

How did you start? Did you start with social medias first, then made a site? Or did you start off with a website together with the social medias?

My first social media account was on Twitter. I don’t know really know why.. I’ve never made a huge presence there. I’ve actually deleted my account. I created my blog about two years after creating my Lookbook page.

Which website are you using for your blog (WordPress, Blogspot, etc.)? Do you have a reason as to why you chose this website? If so, what were they?

I use Blogspot. I didn’t compare it with WordPress when I started. I think I chose it just because I saw some blogs were made using this platform.

Which social medias did you use in the beginning? Which one do you think was the most helpful one in terms of reaching your audience? Why did you think that it was the best medium to use?

In the beginning I only used Twitter and many different sites where you can post your looks/outfits, like Lookbook, Chictopia, Chicisimo and etc.

Do you use more social medias now compared to when you were just starting? If so, which social medias have you added?

Of course. Now I’ve added two essential social media accounts: Instagram and Facebook. I’m not such a big fan of Facebook though, but I’m definitely a bigger fan of Instagram.

How often do you post on your social medias when you were in the beginning stages? Was there a specific time that you thought was the best to post?

In the beginning stages, I had no idea about posting times. I never wanted to be a professional blogger, so I posted just whenever I wanted to.

What camera were you using when you started? Did you have a photographer or you took the photos by yourself? Would you be able to compare the quality of the photos from when you were just starting and to how it is now? What were the changes?

At first, my mom or my boyfriend took photos of me. In the very beginning, I used my father’s camera and only some time after I bought my own, which is a Nikon D3100. I can say that I definitely see the changes in the pictures that I post on Instagram.

Was there a specific blog post or social media post that made you go “Wow!” because of the amount of likes, follows or interactions it received? What was that post?

Yes, it was a post on Instagram where I wore my beige flare pants, my hoodie and a brooch that was made by my friend. I don’t know why, but people really liked this outfit more than others. I even received letters with requests for collaborations where people mentioned that they saw this very post and really fell in love with my style.

How was your first year of becoming an influencer? Others have said that the first year is the hardest, for any business in fact. Was there ever a point that you didn’t think it would work? Did you ever get demotivated? If you did, what happened and how did you go through that obstacle?

I remember that it took me a long time to understand how I could use Instagram well, and because of this, I felt very demotivated. That’s also because everyone kept saying to me that Instagram is everything but I just couldn’t seem to get it. I read so many articles about this social media, but nothing helped. I took this process step by step, and then I slowly learned from the others, and, finally, I understood it and found my ground.

As an influencer, there must be a lot of times that you were contacted for a collaboration, do you remember the first time you were sponsored by a brand? Do you remember which brand it was and what it was that you received?

If I remember correctly, the very first brand was Love (In Love With Fashion). They contacted me on Lookbook and they sent two dresses.

Receiving that from the brand, how did it make you feel? For many bloggers, that must have been such an achievement! Did you celebrate when it happened or was there anything that you did in particular to celebrate?

No, I didn’t exactly celebrate it, but I felt very happy! It was like I was on a whole new level, like seeing the very first result from all my hard work.

Do you have any advice to the future influencers/bloggers/stylists? Do you have any few words for them that they could keep in their minds to keep them motivated or inspired?

First of all, you need to take off your pink glasses and realize that being a blogger is a job. You need to be hard working to achieve the results that you want. You need to work every single day without thinking about the results and the appreciation. Just work and work and work, and only then, you’ll get what you want.

Finally, do you have a motivational quote that could surely motivate you whenever you are feeling demotivated? If there is, what would that be?